Eagles flying high at Loghurst

November 8, 2012

For area Scouts looking to earn their Eagle Award, Loghurst Museum on U.S. 224 in Canfield Township has been very accommodating. With three projects complete and two more projected for 2013, the museum has come up with an award of their own.

"Loghurst is proud to be a part of the Boy Scouts of American Eagle Projects and has designed its first-ever Eagle Scout patch," said Loghurst board secretary Gayle Wanamaker. "We will be presenting the patch to each of the candidates at their individual troop ceremonies in November."

The Eagle awards began with Marcus Masello creating a historic timeline for Loghurst in 2011. This year, Scouts Sal Minardi and Cory Winebold got on board with projects of their own.

Article Photos

Photo special to the Town CrierScouts who completed or are involved at getting their Eagle Award by completing projects at the Loghurst Museum on U.S. 224 include Marcus Masello, 2011 historic timeline Eagle project; Sal Minardi and Cory Winebold, 2012 Eagle projects; and Brandon Ciavarella and Matt Stark, projected 2013 Eagle projects.

Minardi, a member of Troop 115 in Canfield, designed and raised enough money for materials to construct an era-correct outhouse on the Loghurst Farm property. It was complete with a half-moon cutout in the door. His fundraising efforts brought in more than was needed and an extra $380 in funds, according to Wanamaker, went towards an Eagle project for Scout Cory Winebold from Troop 46 in Boardman. There were also some funds left from Masello's project that were forwarded.

Winebold took on a major project. When he approached Loghurst, he was looking for an environmental project. The Loghurst staff had a perfect fit as they needed to restore several garden beds.

"Cory took on a five garden section by redoing two herb beds, one garden bed and two outside fence gardens," Wanamaker said.

Winebold completed the restoration of two historic herb beds that dated back to the 1800s, two symmetrical gardens along the outside fences of Loghurst that contained native wildflowers and ornamentals, and a garden along the side of the Loghurst house. While that project is completed, Winebold is planning on another project to replace a well that is no longer standing for environmental concerns.

To take it even further, Winebold is planning a third project at Loghurst that involves clearing a wooded area and creating a bird sanctuary. His multiple Eagle projects are all part of a bigger picture that Winebold is going after.

In Scouting, there is a prestigious award called the Hornaday Award. Wanamaker said it is the Scouting equivalent of an Olympic medal. Scouts complete four Eagle projects in order to be considered for the Hornaday Award. Prior to his involvement at Loghurst, Winebold earned an Eagle for restoration work on trails in Berlin. Once he completes all the Eagle projects at Loghurst, he will be in line for the Hornaday, and will join the 1,100 Scouts nationwide who have achieved this landmark award.

"What is so wonderful about the Hornaday Award is that the adult working closely with Cory on these projects is the one who will earn the gold, while Cory can achieve the bronze and silver medal positions," Wanamaker said. "In Cory's case, it will be his mother Shelley Winebold who will earn the gold is all the work is completed and approved within a certain time period. Through the combined efforts of students, Boy Scout troops, and the board of directors at Loghurst, we all plan on coordinating our efforts to see to it that the work necessary for Cory to be nominated (for the Hornaday Award) is done with pride, prestige, and the honor found only through Boy Scout leadership."

Besides the ongoing Eagle Scout projects at Loghurst, the community is also donating to the restoration of the historic farm property and home. Dawn and Lee Leichtenwalner of Columbiana, have donated 35 black-eyed Susans to be planted along the rocky border at the entrance. They also donated 15 other herbs of historical significance to be planted in the herb garden.

Another local resident, Paul Bowman, is planning to donate a new lamp post for the garden area to bring back the historical significance of the original time period, which will add to the Scouts' work around the historic structures at Loghurst.

"It is critical for these projects to be completed by Eagle Scouts," Wanamaker said. "Loghurst is a nonprofit historical house and museum. Funding for these projects does not exist. If Loghurst is to remain competitive and maintain curb appeal, we desperately need help with funding and supporting the work needing done through volunteerism. Why not through Eagle Scout projects?"